Overview
Head of Operations — Horizon Leisure Trust. Headline: Head of Operations 65K + 15% bonus. Relocation package available.
Horizon Leisure Trust is a progressive, community-focused organisation operating major leisure centres in Havant, Waterlooville, and Guildford, alongside a dedicated Wellbeing Hub at the Meridian Centre in Havant. The role reports to the Chief Executive and leads the operational delivery of services across all sites to meet high standards of service, safety and performance.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead the operational strategy and delivery across all Horizon sites, ensuring consistent high standards and a proactive, solutions-focused culture.
* Lead on health and safety across all sites, ensuring robust governance, empowering the Health and Safety Manager, and cultivating a proactive culture of safety and compliance.
* Drive income generation and commercial performance across core areas including Health & Fitness, Learn to Swim, Soft Play, Events, and Hospitality.
* Hold full profit and loss responsibility, ensuring financial targets are met and resources are optimised.
* Manage organisational change effectively, embedding continuous improvement and operational resilience.
* Provide strong leadership and development for operational and commercial teams, promoting ownership and high performance.
* Collaborate with the Marketing team to shape and execute commercial campaigns that drive engagement and growth.
* Support the Chief Executive in building and maintaining strategic relationships with external stakeholders, local authorities, and community partners.
* Lead and support major capital and business development projects aligned with Horizon’s long-term objectives.
Candidate Profile / Qualifications
* A minimum of five years’ experience in a senior operational or commercial leadership role within the leisure, health and fitness, or contract management sectors.
* Proven success in managing multi-site operations and delivering high-quality customer experiences.
* Strong commercial acumen with a track record of income generation and budgetary control.
* Demonstrated ability to lead change, challenge existing processes, and embed a culture of continuous improvement.
* A modern, people-focused leadership style with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
* Experience in capital project delivery and strategic business case development.
Benefits and Terms
Competitive basic salary of about £65,000 with a potential 15% annual performance bonus. Benefits include 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increasing with service), a matched pension contribution of 5%, BUPA Medical and Dental, Smart Health Online GP Access, Death in Service x3, Free Membership x2, and access to Reward Gateway’s discount platform. Relocation package can be considered for the right candidate.
How to Apply
To apply please forward your CV to David Peacock, Recruitment Director at our retained recruitment partners – Leisure People. Email: dp@leisurepeople.com. For an informal discussion, David can be contacted on 07974 313421.
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